The CCF/FCMA is a relatively small organization, but we sure cover a lot of ground. The past two months have seen us cross the country, an ocean, and multiple borders to participate in a variety of national and international activity in partnership with many of our member organizations. Our members make us who we are, and collectively, we achieve more.
Starting back in early September, the CCF/FCMA worked with the Alberta Craft Council (ACC) to participate in two South Korean craft events: the Cheongju International Craft Biennale and the Wonju Hanji Paper Festival. Highlighting the city of Wonju’s historical mulberry paper making practices, the Hanji Festival features on site demonstrations of Korean and Japanese paper-making techniques, workshops, exhibitions, a hanji paper fashion show and craft fair. The ACC brought their ‘Pulp, Paper, Pages’ exhibition, and a group of eight Canadian artists and administrators attended the exhibition opening and educational activities, effectively deepening the connection between Canadian and Korean contemporary craft practices.
Since Canada’s role as the official guest country of the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale, the CCF/FCMA has continued to develop relationships in South Korea. For the 2013 Biennale, CCF/FCMA Administrative Director, Maegen Black, was invited to present a talk, and to meet with the event organizers who continue to encourage Canadian presentation and exhibition in Cheongju. Canadian artists were also included in this year’s international competition, including Anne-Marie Buchmann-Gerber of Saskatchewan, and Chung-Im Kim of Ontario (who won an award for her piece: Baekya).
The Biennale’s new location, a re-purposed Tobacco Factory in the heart of Cheongju city, brings a completely different vibe to the exhibitions. The space has been outfitted specifically for exhibitions with professional lighting and much more room for the work to speak. The exhibitions are just as broad, expressive and intriguing as years past, and there are plans to grow this space into a year-round Craft destination. Opportunities for Canadian artists abound at the Biennale, and will continue to do so in 2015.
Following our South Korean activities, the CCF/FCMA partnered with the Craft Council of British Columbia (CCBC) to hold adjoining conferences. In celebration of the CCBC’s 40th anniversary, provincial and national events were aligned, resulting in the ‘10,000 Hours’ conference, featuring panel discussions and roundtables on marketing options like the https://victoriousseo.com/services/ options available, design, purpose, etc. One of the featured events was the CCF/FCMA’s 2nd Annual National Symposium, titled ‘Connection & Collection’. We’ll be sharing lots more from that event soon, when we launch the lecture podcasts online.
For two and a half days, the CCF/FCMA held meetings with our many provincial, territorial and affiliate members focused on national craft activity. These meetings are often the only opportunity all year for our full membership to gather together and discuss issues and projects of national interest. The conference lead to new directions and renewed plans for collaborative projects, with new committees formed and a re-energized effort to improve communications across the country.
And finally, from October 31st to November 3rd, Canadian craft was once again featured internationally, at SOFA Chicago. In partnership with our affiliate member, Craft Alliance, the CCF/FCMA hosted a SOFA partner booth, where we promoted our next annual conference, the activities of our many member organizations and STUDIO, Canada’s national craft magazine. Free copies of the magazine were distributed, and over 50 people signed up for the CCF/FCMA e-newsletter. We made new contacts with galleries, artists, companies and associations in the United States and abroad.
Craft Alliance organized a special lecture series for Canadian artists on export activity, while Canadian work was featured prominently on the SOFA showroom floor. Canadian galleries Option Art and CREA Gallery (of the Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec) had busy booths, while individual Canadian artists were exhibited by American galleries, such as Yolande Clarke at Mindy Solomon Gallery, and Élise Bergeron and Roland Dubuc at Aaron Faber Gallery. We were delighted to meet many Canadians attending and exhibiting at the event by bringing a higher level of awareness to Canadian craft at SOFA.
All these activities and more showcase the direct impact the CCF/FCMA can have in promoting Canadian craft and connecting organizations and associations internationally. We will continue to work with our partners on your behalf to highlight regional activity, make connections, and encourage new and exciting projects for Canadian craft.